Unusual Meteorite Unlocks Treasure Trove Of Solar System Secrets

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Unusual Meteorite Unlocks Treasure Trove Of Solar System Secrets

Dr. Munir Humayun.
Tallahassee FL (SPX) Sep 28, 2005


An unusual meteorite that fell on a frozen lake in Canada five years ago has led a Florida State University geochemist to a breakthrough in understanding the origin of the chemical elements that make up our solar system.

Professor Munir Humayun of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the geological sciences department at FSU and Alan Brandon of NASA discovered an isotopic anomaly in the rare element osmium in primitive meteorites. The anomalous osmium was derived from small stars with a higher neutron density than that which formed our solar system.

The findings of the researchers, who also included colleagues from the University of Maryland and Bern University in Switzerland, were recently published in the journal Science.

"Our new data enabled us to catch a glimpse of the different star types that contributed elements to the solar system, the parental stars of our chemical matter," Humayun said. "It opens a treasure trove of prospects for exploring the formation of the elements."
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/meteor-05e.html